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A Buckingham Correctional Center (BCC) inmate has died from COVID-19, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC). 

VDOC numbers Friday, May 8, revealed the first death of a BCC inmate from the virus. It is also the first coronavirus-related death to be reported in Buckingham County. 

Centra’s Diane Ludwig said Friday there had been a total of two coronavirus-related deaths at the Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville throughout the COVID-19 crisis, neither of which were inmates.

VDOC also listed BCC Friday as having a total of 13 offenders who have tested positive for the virus, three who are in hospitals. The number of BCC employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 has increased to three. 

The nearby Dillwyn Correctional Center (DCC) was listed as having 203 positive offenders. DCC’s number of positive staff has risen to eight. 

On Thursday, VDOC announced 300 BCC inmate coronavirus tests would have to be redone after the lab the tests were taken to mistakenly sent the swabs to another Virginia prison instead of processing the tests. 

Friday the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported 225 total COVID-19 cases had occurred in Buckingham County, with 10 hospitalizations and one death. Cumberland County rose to 13 cases and two hospitalizations. Prince Edward County was listed as having experienced 65 total cases with six hospitalizations and two deaths. Nearby Lunenburg County has risen to five cases. Charlotte County remains at 11 cases with two hospitalizations.  

VDH reported a total of 22,342 positive coronavirus cases in Virginia with 812 deaths. 

 The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association on Friday listed 1,625 positive patients or those awaiting test results had been hospitalized, with 378 of those patients in the ICU. The state had 199 of its 2,935 ventilators in use. 2,997 Virginians have recovered from the virus and been discharged.